(Natural News) You don’t have to be a geologist to
understand that an earthquake in the vicinity of a volcano could be a disaster
waiting to happen, but what if there were nearly 900 quakes near a
supervolcano?

That is the situation that is playing out right now in
Yellowstone National Park, where 878 earthquakes have struck since June 12.
Most of the quakes had a very low magnitude, but the strongest one, which was
recorded on June 15, had a magnitude of 4.4. The park rests atop one of the
most dangerous supervolcanoes on the planet, prompting fears that it could be
about to blow. Any doubts about its active state can be dispelled by the sight
of Old Faithful, shooting water up every few hours.

While earthquake swarms are not unusual in Yellowstone, the
week of June 12 saw the highest number of quakes to be noted in a single week
in five years. Although the risk of eruption remains low overall and the
volcano alert level has not been raised from green, it is believed that if it
does erupt, it could be 1,000 times as powerful as the one at Mount St. Helens
in 1980.

This particular volcano has been dormant for more than
70,000 years, but that does not mean it won’t erupt again eventually. It’s
impossible to predict when that might occur, but seismic activity can signal a
potential eruption. Four years ago, researchers discovered that the underground
magma chamber of the volcano was more than twice as big as previously believed,
encompassing an area of land that measures 56 by 19 miles.

Huge ash cloud could devastate Western U.S.

Should the volcano erupt, the resultant ash, smoke and lava
would most likely cause widespread devastation in this country and also have an
effect on the rest of the world. It is believed that an eruption there would
see molten lava hotter than 1,000 degrees, but the biggest concern is the ash.
Scientists believe it could emit ash that extends over 500 miles, stretching
from California all the way to Texas and Louisiana. It would likely leave as
many as four inches of gray ash on the ground, destroying Midwestern crops.

It could also spew out gases like sulfur dioxide, creating
acid rain and leading to global cooling by reflecting the sun from the Earth.
While it might not wipe out human life entirely, it would certainly create a lot of damage across the western side of our nation.

Another concern in that part of the country is a gigantic
well of molten carbon that was discovered under the park earlier this year.
Spanning 700,000 square miles, this section of upper mantle is about the size
of Mexico and creates specific seismic patterns as solid carbonates melt. If a
significant amount of the gases in this deposit are suddenly released into our
atmosphere, it could spur an environmental disaster akin to nuclear warfare.

As for the Yellowstone supervolcano, it has only had three
major eruptions in the last 2 million years. Geologists say that other signs
would also likely occur if the volcano was on the verge of blowing, such as big changes in the surface deformation, gas output, and the hydrothermal system.

Even though this latest round of earthquakes will likely –
and hopefully – amount to nothing just like similar earthquake swarms in the
past, the news serves as a reminder that it never hurts to prepare for events
like this one. Waiting for more signs of impending doom, whether it’s a volcano or another type of threat, will place you in competition with other people for
scarce resources, so the time to start stocking up and making a plan is now.

(Natural News) Earthquakes are a rare event in a
tectonically peaceful region like Pennsylvania. However, fracking operations
triggered a series of small shivers that took place last year, state officials
of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced in a recent report.

While they were too weak to be felt by humans (they ranged
from 1.8 to 2.3 on the Richter Scale), up to five earthquakes were recorded in
Lawrence County, about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, in April 2016. The
epicenters of the quakes were registered within a five-mile radius of the gas
well pad owned by the Texas-based Hilcorp Energy Company.

Fracking-induced earthquakes, which are common in Ohio and
Oklahoma, had never been recorded in Pennsylvania, which is the nation’s number
two natural gas-producing state. As a result, Pennsylvania is taking steps to
monitor and address seismic activities caused by fracking operations.

Earthquakes caused by zipper fracturing

When the DEP warned Hilcorp of the increased seismic
activity, the company immediately suspended all fracking operations for an
indefinite time. Spokesman Justin Furnace said the company is currently
reviewing the DEP’s report and has no plans to resume drilling activities. He
added that they will continue to work with the state to address future
concerns.

Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is a process where millions
of gallons of water along, with sand and chemicals, are injected under high
pressure into a well, shattering the shale rocks to free the natural gas. At
the time of the quakes, Hilcorp was using a technique called zipper fracturing
where two parallel, horizontal wells are simultaneously drilled next to each
other.

Seth Pelepko, chief of well-plugging and subsurface
activities for the DEP’s oil and gas management program, explained that when
the drilling site is too close to the layer of basement rock, earthquakes may
arise. He added that compared to other areas in the state the basement rock is
quite shallow in Lawrence County. Furthermore, he noted that fracking
techniques enlarge the pressure zone near the wells, which can also be a
shock-inducing factor.

A “stop-light” procedure to prevent more fracking-induced
earthquakes

Since the earthquakes occurred, the DEP has addressed the
issue of fracking-induced earthquakes through a list of recommendations for the
Hilcorp company. The list is a first step towards creating a stop-light
procedure and area-specific regulations to reduce the earthquake risk near
fracking sites.

To prevent future quakes, Hilcorp has agreed to stop using
zipper fracturing near wells in the townships North Beaver, Union, and Mahoning
where the temblors were recorded.
Additionally, the DEP has ordered Hilcorp to operate its own seismic
monitors to report seismic activity with a magnitude of 1.0 or greater within
10 minutes. Furthermore, when seismic events with a magnitude of 2.0 or higher
occur, fracking operations must be suspended and re-evaluated at once.

For Hilcorp it is not the first time its fracking operations
have been blamed for causing earthquakes. In 2014, geologists Robert Skoumal,
Michael Brudzinski, and Brian Currie, scanned seismological data and recorded
77 earthquakes in Poland Township, Ohio, with magnitudes ranging from 1.0 to
3.0. All 77 quakes occurred around two wells operated by the Texas-based energy
company.

As stated by the Ohio geologists, one of the 2014 quakes
with a 3.0 magnitude, which is strong enough to be felt by residents, was
“potentially one of the largest earthquakes induced by hydraulic fracturing in
the United States.”

Sadly, earthquakes are not the only thing people living near
injection wells have to fear. Multiple studies have shown that fracking is
contaminating our drinking water with cancer-causing chemicals via the waste
water they inject into the ground. If you live near a fracking site, a quick lab analysis of your tap water may protect your family’s health.

World's largest earthquake - tsunami map: The Chilean earthquake produced a powerful tsunami that traveled at a speed of about 200 miles per hour across the Pacific Ocean. The wave killed 61 people in Hawaii, 138 in Japan, and 32 in the Philippines. The star marks the location of the epicenter, and the numbers on the contour lines are travel times in hours for the wave front. Image by NOAA.

"The Great
Chilean Earthquake"

The world's largest earthquake with an instrumentally
documented magnitude occurred on May 22, 1960 near Valdivia, in southern Chile.
It was assigned a magnitude of 9.5 by the United States Geological Survey. It
is referred to as the "Great Chilean Earthquake" and the "1960
Valdivia Earthquake."

The United States Geological Survey reports this event as
the "largest earthquake of the 20th Century." Other earthquakes in
recorded history may have been larger; however, this is the largest earthquake
that has occurred since accurate estimates of magnitude became possible in the
early 1900s.

World's Twelve Largest Earthquakes

Includes all measured earthquakes since 1900

Magnitude

Location

Date

9.5

Chile

05/22/1960

9.2

Alaska

03/28/1964

9.1

Off the coast of Northern Sumatra

12/26/2004

9.0

Honshu, Japan

03/11/2011

9.0

Kamchatka

11/04/1952

8.8

Off the coast of Chile

02/27/2010

8.8

Off the coast of Ecuador

01/31/1906

8.7

Rat Islands, Alaska

02/04/1965

8.6

Northern Sumatra

03/28/2005

8.6

Tibet

08/15/1950

8.6

Off the coast of Northern Sumatra

04/11/2012

8.6

Andreanof Islands, Alaska

03/09/1957

Data from the United States Geological Survey.

Local Damage from
Ground Motion and Tsunamis

The earthquake occurred beneath the Pacific Ocean off the
coast of Chile. Ground motion from this earthquake destroyed or damaged
thousands of buildings. The Chilean government estimated that about 2,000,000
people were left homeless. It was fortunate that the earthquake occurred in the
middle of the afternoon and was preceded by a powerful foreshock. That
foreshock frightened most people from their buildings, placing them outside when
the main earthquake occurred.

Most of the damage and deaths were caused by a series of
tsunamis that were generated by the earthquake. These waves swept over coastal
areas moments after the earthquake occurred. They pushed buildings from their
foundations and drowned many people.

There are many different casualty estimates for this
earthquake. They range from a low of 490 to a high of "approximately
6000." Most of the casualties were caused by tsunamis in Chile and from
ground motion. However, people as far away as the Philippines were killed by
this event.

The costs of the damage were estimated to have been between
$400 and $800 million in 1960 dollars, which would be about $3 to $6 billion
today, adjusted for inflation.

Tsunami Damage

This is one of the few earthquakes that has killed large
numbers of people at distant locations. Tsunamis generated by the earthquake
traveled across the Pacific Ocean at a speed of over 200 miles per hour.
Changes in sea level were noticed all around the Pacific Ocean basin.

Fifteen hours after the earthquake, a tsunami with a runup
of 35 feet swept over coastal areas of Hawaii. Many shoreline facilities and
buildings near coastal areas were destroyed. Near Hilo, Hawaii, 61 people were
reported killed by the waves.

In California, many small boats were damaged as the waves
swept through marinas. At Crescent City, a wave had a runup of about 5 feet and
caused damage to shoreline structures and small boats.

Waves up to 18 feet high hit the island of Honshu, Japan
about 22 hours after the earthquake. There it destroyed more than 1600 homes
and left 185 people dead or missing. Another 32 people were killed in the
Philippines about 24 hours after the earthquake. Damage also occurred on Easter
Island and Samoa.

Subsidence and Uplift

The United States Geological Survey reports that there was
about five feet of subsidence along the Chilean coast from the south end of the
Arauco Peninsula to Quellon on Chiloe Island. This left a number of buildings
below water level at high tide. As much as ten feet of uplift occurred at Isla
Guafo.

Tectonics

This was a megathrust earthquake that occurred at a depth of
about 20 miles, where the Nazca Plate is subducting beneath the South American
Plate. It produced a 500-mile-long rupture zone extending from Talca, Chile to
the Chiloe Archipelago. Numerous large earthquakes have occurred in this area
before and after the May 22, 1960 event.

Foreshocks

The earthquake was preceded by four foreshocks greater than
magnitude 7.0. The largest was a magnitude 7.9 earthquake one day before that
caused significant damage in the Concepcion area.

Damage in Hawaii

(Quoted from: Tsunami in Hawaii. Lander, James F., and
Lockridge, Patricia A., 1989, in: United States Tsunamis 1690-1988: U.S. Dept.
of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.)

"A devastating earthquake (magnitude 8.6) off the coast
of central Chile generated a tsunami affecting the entire Pacific Basin. In
general the wave action along Hawaiian shores was quiet, resembling that of the
tide, although it had a shorter period and a greater range. It killed 61 and
seriously injured 43.

In Hilo Bay, however, the third wave was converted into a
bore that flooded inland to the 6 m contour. Nearly 240 hectares (600 acres)
inland of Hilo harbor were inundated, and all the deaths and $23.5 million of
the damage occurred in this area. (The estimates of damage in Hawaii vary from
$75 million in Talley and Cloud (1962), to $20 million in Wall (1960). A total
of about $24 million for Hawaii is given by the Hawaiian office of Civil
Defense.)

In nearly half of this area total destruction occurred. In
the area of maximum destruction, only buildings of reinforced concrete or
structural steel, and a few others sheltered by these buildings, remained
standing--and even these were generally gutted. Frame buildings either were
crushed or floated nearly to the limits of flooding. Dozens of automobiles were
wrecked; a 10-metric-ton tractor in a showroom was swept away; heavy machinery,
mill rollers, and metal stocks were strewn about. Rocks weighing as much as 20
metric tons were plucked from a sea wall and carried as far as 180 m inland.
Damage elsewhere on the Island of Hawaii was restricted to the west and
southern coasts, where about a dozen buildings, mostly of frame construction,
were floated off their foundations, crushed, or flooded. There was half a
million dollars of damage on the Kona coast alone. Six houses were destroyed at
Napoopoo.

On Maui the damage was concentrated in the Kahului area on
the north coast. A warehouse and half a dozen houses were demolished, and other
warehouses, stores, offices, and houses, and their contents were damaged. A
church floated 6.1 m away from its foundation. Other buildings were damaged at
Paukukalo, just outside and west of the harbor.

At Spreckelsville and Paia, east of Kahului, houses were
damaged, and one house at each place was demolished. Additional damage occurred
at Kihei on the south coast and Lahaina on the west coast. On the island of
Molokai there was some damage to houses, fish ponds, and roads, and a
beachhouse was demolished on the Island of Lanai. The islands of Kauai and Oahu
escaped with only minor damage. Fifty houses at Kuliouou, an eastern suburb of
Honolulu, were flooded, and $250,000 in damage was done. Elsewhere on Oahu no
damage was reported, even where there was inundation of areas occupied by
houses. On Kauai, so far as is known, the only damage consisted of one frame
building being floated off its foundation on the south coast."

Damage in California

(Quoted from: Tsunami on West Coast of United States.
Lander, James F., and Lockridge, Patricia A., 1989, in: United States Tsunamis
1690-1988: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.)

"The largest wave height in California was measured at
the Crescent City tide gage was 1.7 m. Waves of 1.5 m were observed at Stenson
Beach. The amplitude was more than 1.4 m at Santa Monica. The amplitude at Port
Hueneme was 1.3 m and 1.2 m at Pacifica. The tsunami was recorded widely along
the Pacific coast with amplitudes less than 1 m. Two vessels valued at $30,000
were lost at Crescent City.

Major damage was reported in the Los Angeles and Long Beach
harbors. An estimated 300 small craft were set adrift and about 30 sunk
including a 24 m yacht which smashed into bridge piers partially disabling the
bridge. The Yacht Center lost 235 boat landing slips and 110 more were
destroyed at the Colonial Yacht Anchorage and Cerritos Yacht Anchorage for a
loss of $300,000. A skin diver, Raymond Stuart, was missing and presumed
drowned at Cabrillo Beach, but no death certificate was found. In the harbor
currents estimated to be 22 km/hr snapped and washed out pilings.

Many thousands of liters of gasoline and oil spilled from
the overturn of the boats prompting fears of a fire. Several buoys and
navigational aids were swept away at Terminal Island. The Coast Guard landing
including the tide gage was washed 5.6 km to sea but was rescued. A mess boy
fell 6 m from the bridge of the first ship to attempt to leave the harbor the
next day. The ship returned to harbor so his injuries could be treated at the
hospital. The accident was blamed on rough seas.

At San Diego, ferry service was interrupted after one
passenger-laden ferry smashed into the dock at Coronado knocking out eight
pilings. A second ferry was forced 1.5 km off course and into a flotilla of
anchored destroyers. More than 80 m of dock were destroyed. A 100 ton dredge
rammed the concrete pilings supporting the Mission Bay bridge tearing out a 21
m section. A 45 m bait barge smashed eight slips at the Seaforth Landing before
breaking in half and sinking. The currents swept 12 and 30 m floats from the
San Diego Harbor Masters Pier on Shelter Island and swept away two sections of
dockage at the Southwest Yacht Club at Point Loma.

At Santa Monica the water fell so low that the bottom of the
breakwater was nearly exposed. Eight small craft snapped mooring lines but were
taken in tow. One surge swept more than 91 m up the beach flooding a parking
lot just off the Pacific coast Highway.

At Santa Barbara a drifting oil exploration barge repeatedly
rammed the new dredge causing at least $10,000 in damage. An additional $10,000
was done elsewhere including damage to 40 small craft set adrift there."

Earthquakes are one of nature’s most destructive forces able
to cause incomprehensible amount of damage in a very short period of time. From
the Nepal Earthquake which caused the lives of over 5,000 people to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we’re going to share with you 25 of the worst
earthquakes in the world, both in the number of deaths and magnitude.

25

Valdivia, Chile

Valdivia, Chile

When it comes to the earthquake’s magnitude, the 1960
Valdivia earthquake takes the cake at 9.5, which was equivalent to a massive
178-Gigatons of power. This can be comparable to 1,000 atomic bombs going off
at the same time. The earthquake was not only felt in Valdivia but also reached
Hawaii, at a distance of 435 miles. While only 6,000 people died in the
catastrophe, it incurred more than $1 billion worth of damages.

24

Shaanxi, China

Shaanxi, China

This earthquake has sometimes been called the deadliest
earthquake in history. The incident happened on January 23, 1556 in Shaanxi,
China and devastated an area of 520 miles. It was felt in 97 countries; and
resulted in more than 20 meters deep crevices and landslides, which collapsed
numerous dwellings. The death toll of this devastating earthquake was 830,000,
which is over 60% of the region’s population. Its magnitude was only 8.0 on the
Richter scale or only 1-Gigaton, but the costs cannot be written in today’s
terms.

23

Sumatra, Indonesia

Sumatra, Indonesia

This earthquake hit the sea bed of the Indian Ocean on
December 26, 2004 with a magnitude of 9.1 to 9.3 or over 32-Gigatons, and
caused the Boxing Day Tsunami. This was the second highest seismic activity
recorded with the longest duration of tremors. The after-effects even reached
Maldives and Thailand, with more than 5 tsunamis hitting the coastlines of the
Indian Sea. It had a death toll of 100,100 to 225,000 with over $7 billion
worth of rescue and damage costs during the first 8.3 to 10 minutes alone.

22

Aleppo, Syria

Aleppo, Syria

This disaster happened near the town of Aleppo in Syria on
October 11, 1138. The earthquake, which had a magnitude of 8.5 or 2.8-Gigaton,
was labeled as the fourth worst earthquake disaster in the world. Catastrophes
included a nearby church that fell on itself causing the death of 600 guards
and citizens, and total death toll of 230,000. A number of towns near the
tremor were completely destroyed and had to be rebuilt to become habitable
again.

21

Tangshan, China

Tangshan, Hebei

This tragedy happened on July 28, 1976 in Tangshan, Hebei
and killed 255,000 people though the Chinese government first recorded its
death toll at 655,000. The 8.2 magnitude or 2.2-Gigaton quake only lasted for
10 seconds, but brought a lot of devastation to the area. In addition, Tangshan
is a region with a very low-risk for earthquakes, so the buildings were not
earthquake-proof. The quake was 4 miles long and 5 miles wide, which left a
total damage of 10 billion Yuan or $1.3 billion.

Earthquakes are one of nature’s most destructive forces able
to cause incomprehensible amount of damage in a very short period of time. From
the Nepal Earthquake which caused the lives of over 5,000 people to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we’re going to share with you 25 of the worst
earthquakes in the world, both in the number of deaths and magnitude.

20

Haiyuan County, China

Haiyuan County, China

Also called ‘the 1920 Gansu Earthquake,’ this disaster
happened in Haiyuan County, Ningxia. Though there were conflicting reports on
its magnitude and death toll, as both the Chinese government and the United
States Geological Survey (USGS) published different reports, it still brought
catastrophic effects that were felt for over 125 miles and aftershocks that
lasted over 3 years. The December 16, 1920 quake has conflicting magnitudes of
7.8 and 8.5 and death tolls of 200,000 or 240,000.

19

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Port-au-Prince, Haiti

The Haiti earthquake was a magnitude 7.0 on the Richter
scale, with an epicenter near Leogane, 25 km west of its capital,
Port-au-Prince. It struck on January 12, 2010 where at least 52 aftershocks
measuring 4.5 or greater could still be felt even 12 days later. The earthquake
left a devastating wake of 316,000 deaths, 300,000 injured and 1,000,000 people
homeless. It was estimated that 250,000 houses and 30,000 commercial buildings
had collapsed or were severely destroyed.

18

Xining, China

Xining, China

Xining, which lies on the Huangshui River on the eastern
part of Quinghai Province, experienced a magnitude 7.9 seismic activity on May
22, 1927. It killed 40,900 people though there were other reports that the
death toll could be as high as 200,000. The earthquake was not only deadly but
it also brought large fractures, damages to over 500 schools and office
buildings causing many people to lose their occupations. This was also linked
to the Great Gansu Earthquake.

17

Damghan, Iran

Damghan, Iran

The earliest record-breaking earthquake as it happened on
December 22, 856, this earthquake struck Damghan, the capital of Iran at that
time with a magnitude of 8.0 or 1-Gigaton power. It killed 200,000 people, with
tremors that could be felt throughout the surrounding areas of Damghan causing
these areas to be totally destroyed as well, though Damghan itself was not
severely damaged. A great example was Bustam, a nearby town, which was
completely leveled by the quake.

16

Tohoku, Japan

Tohoku, Japan

On March 11, 2011, the east coast of Tohoku in Japan was
struck by a 9.03 magnitude earthquake, which was the strongest to ever hit
Japan. Considered one of the top five largest earthquakes in the world, it
caused destruction that claimed 15,878 lives, left 6,126 injured and 2,173
people missing across 20 prefectures. It also caused the collapsed of 129,225
buildings, while the tsunami brought about by the quake also caused severe
structural damages, fires in many areas, and damages in roads and railways.
This was the most difficult crisis Japan had ever faced after World War II as
it did not only inflict damages to lives and properties, but also caused
significant damages to four major nuclear power stations. Debris from the
tsunami reached as far as Canada and Hawaii.

Earthquakes are one of nature’s most destructive forces able
to cause incomprehensible amount of damage in a very short period of time. From
the Nepal Earthquake which caused the lives of over 5,000 people to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we’re going to share with you 25 of the worst
earthquakes in the world, both in the number of deaths and magnitude.

15

Kanto, Japan

Kanto, Japan

The Great Kanto earthquake was a magnitude 7.9 disaster that
hit the Kanto plain, a main island of Honshu in Japan on September 1, 1923.
This was once considered the deadliest earthquake in the history of Japan as it
caused ‘the Great Tokyo Fire’ though the duration of the quake was only between
4 and 10 minutes. However, its record was surpassed by the 2011 Tohuku
earthquake at a magnitude of 9.0. The fire alone claimed the lives of 140,000
people and destroyed 447,000 houses. This does not include those who died from
landslides, tsunamis, and 57 aftershocks, which had estimated deaths of 93,000
people and 43,500 missing.

14

Ashgabat, Soviet Union

Ashgabat, Soviet Union

This earthquake occurred on October 6, 1948 near Ashgabat,
USSR with a magnitude of 7.3. Due to censorship, this was not reported in the
media so there were no reports regarding its casualties or damages. Due to the
secrecy, it was purported that the earthquake was the result of Soviet Union’s
first atomic bomb test. Media sources also vary on the number of casualties
from 10,000 to 176,000 though a correct death toll was reported in December 9,
1988 as 110,000. The earthquake also caused the collapsed of brick buildings,
concrete structures and freight trains.

13

Messina, Italy

Messina, Italy

This was a 7.1-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that claimed
the lives of some 100,000 to 200,000 lives in Messina and Reggio in Sicily and
Calabria in southern Italy. The earthquake, which took place on December 28,
1908, caused the ground to shake for 30 to 40 seconds and was felt in a
186-mile radius. A 12-meter tsunami also hit the nearby coasts causing more
destruction including the death of 70,000 residents with 91% of the structures
in Messina destroyed.

12

Chihli, China

Chihli, China

The Chihli earthquake happened in September 27, 1290 with
the epicenter near Ningcheng in Inner Mongolia with an estimated magnitude of
6.8. However, it has a maximum felt intensity of nine on the Mercalli intensity
scale as it claimed the lives of some 100,000 people. It also destroyed 480
storehouses and countless homes in nearby areas, including the Fengguo Temple
in Yingxian.

11

Sichuan, China

Sichuan, China

The Great Sichuan Earthquake occurred on May 8, 2008 with a
magnitude that measured 8.0 and 7.9. It was so great that it was felt in nearby
countries and as far away as Beijing and Shanghai where buildings swayed with
tremors. Official figures for the damages include 69,197 deaths with 68,636 in
Sichuan province, 374,176 injured and 18,222 missing. This was considered as
the deadliest earthquake to hit China after the 1976 Tangshan earthquake, as it
left 4.8 million to 15 million people homeless. The Chinese government is
appropriating 1 trillion Yuan or $146.5 billion to rebuild areas ravaged by the
great quake.

Earthquakes are one of nature’s most destructive forces able
to cause incomprehensible amount of damage in a very short period of time. From
the Nepal Earthquake which caused the lives of over 5,000 people to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we’re going to share with you 25 of the worst
earthquakes in the world, both in the number of deaths and magnitude.

10

Kashmir, Pakistan

Kashmir, Pakistan

The October 8, 2005 Kashmir, Pakistan was visited by an
earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.6.The disaster had a death toll of
85,000 and more than 69,000 were injured. Considered to be smaller in size than
the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, it affected countries in surrounding regions
with 14,000 deaths in Jammu and tremors felt in Taijikistan and western China.
It also cost a staggering $5.4 billion in aids from all around the world.

9

Shemakha, Azerbaijan

Shemakha, Azerbaijan

This was a 6.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred in
November 1667 with its epicenter close to the city of Samaxi, Azerbaijan. It
had a maximum felt intensity of ten and caused the death of 80,000 people. It
had a focal depth of 12 kilometers with an estimated damage of over $25
million.

8

Tabriz, Iran

Tabriz, Iran

This took place near the city of Tabriz, Iran on April 26,
1721, and destroyed prominent mosques and schools resulting in death casualties
of 8,000 to 250,000, though it was approximated at 80,000 only. Interpreted as
an omen of misfortune or a demonstration of divine wrath, it contributed to the
success of the Ottoman take-over of Tabriz in 1722 and on its economic
difficulties, as well as the destruction of the city’s significant historical
monuments.

7

Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, Portugal

Known as the ‘Great Lisbon Earthquake,’ this event occurred
on November 1, 1755 in the Kingdom of Portugal. Seismologists today estimate
the Lisbon earthquake in the range of 8.5 to 9.0 on the moment magnitude scale
that has a deadly combination of subsequent fires and a tsunami. It totally
destroyed Lisbon and its surrounding areas with an estimated death toll of
between 10,000 and 100,000 people. Because of its devastating effects over
large areas, this event resulted in the scientific studies of modern seismology
and earthquake engineering.

6

Yungay, Peru

Yungay, Peru

This Great Peruvian Earthquake was an undersea earthquake
that affected the regions of Ancash and La Libertad. It occurred in May 31,
1970 ad was recorded as the worst catastrophic natural disaster that hit Peru,
which affected over 3 million people. It has a magnitude of 7.9 to 8.0 on the
Richter scale with an intensity of VIII on the Mercalli scale, which lasted for
45 seconds. This caused the rock, ice, and snow avalanche on the northern wall
of Mount Huascaran burying the towns of Yungay and Ranrahirca, which led to the
death of 20,000 people in Yungay alone. The damages incurred tallied to 74,194
deaths, 25,600 missing, 143,331 injured, and more than a million homeless. The
estimated economic loss was more than half a billion USD with the entire
communication system and basic facilities destroyed.

Earthquakes are one of nature’s most destructive forces able
to cause incomprehensible amount of damage in a very short period of time. From
the Nepal Earthquake which caused the lives of over 5,000 people to
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, we’re going to share with you 25 of the worst
earthquakes in the world, both in the number of deaths and magnitude.

5

Sicily, Italy

Sicily, Italy

On January 11, 1693, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude
of 7.4 and maximum intensity of XI or ‘extreme’ had struck the parts of Sicily,
Calabria, and Matta in southern Italy. Considered the most powerful in Italian
history, it destroyed at least 70 towns and cities causing the death of 60,000
people. It was also followed by a tsunami that hit the Ionian Sea and the
Straits of Messina, wiping out two-thirds of the entire population of Catania.

4

Rudbar, Iran

Rudbar, Iran

This disastrous event happened on June 21, 1990 and caused
widespread damage within 100 kilometers of the epicenter’s radius near the city
of Rashi, and about 200 kilometer northwest of Tehran. It destroyed 700
villages across the cities of Rudbar, Manjiil, and Lushan and cost $200,000,000
in damages, including 40,000 fatalities, 60,000 injured and 500,000 people
homeless.

3

Izmit, Turkey

Izmit, Turkey

This was a 7.9-magnitude earthquake that struck northern
Turkey on August 17, 1990, which lasted for only 3.7 seconds. The city of Izmit
was very badly damaged and had a death toll of 17,127 and 43, 959 injured
though other sources suggested that the actual figure for fatalities may be
closer to 45,000 with a similar number of injured. Another report from September
1999 showed that the earthquake had destroyed 120,000 poorly-engineered houses,
heavily damaged 50,000 houses; caused 2,000 buildings to collapse while 4,000
other buildings left severely damaged, and made more than 300,000 people
homeless.

2

Nankaido, Japan

Nankaido, Japan

This 8.6 magnitude earthquake that occurred on September 20,
1498, off the coast of Nankia, Japan triggered a large tsunami, which cost the
lives of between 26,000 and 31,000 people. It caused severe shaking that
reached the Boso Peninsula and also caused a tsunami in the Suruga Bay, which
destroyed the building that housed the statue of the Great Buddha at Kotuku-in.

1

Nepal Earthquake

Nepal Earthquake (between Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara)

A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal in an area between
the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara on Saturday April 25, 2015 with
what has been described as a force equaling that of 20 thermonuclear weapons.
The devastation claimed the lives of at least 5,000 people while injuring
10,000 more with authorities warning that casualty numbers could rise. The
devastating quake also destroyed major monuments such as the Dharahara tower,
temples and world heritage sites near Kathmandu.